Just watched finale.. What did you think would happen?

Just like you, I expected JF would FINALLY give/allow some happiness for Edith and the Bates. He certainly put those characters through a lot of grief during the length of the series. Don't think "public opinion" would have let JF get away with less for Edith and the Bates! :D

I was not surprised that the Crawleys did NOT loose Downton despite the foreboding tone at times during Season 6. In numerous interviews, JF has always stated that he imagined Downton would survive and stay in the Crawley family just like Highclere Castle stayed in the Carnarvon family. That Downton would survive into the future.

As a result, I did NOT see Robert dying. Give us a good health scare - YES, but death NO. A new hit of death taxes would put the estate's future TOO much in doubt for the series ending and contradict JF's imaginary vision.

Also from numerous interviews (JF, Gareth Neame, Liz Trubridge), the CS landed/placed all the main characters in a position where "we can imagine" their moving on into the future. For me, the way it ended left it open for JF, GN and LT to pick up the characters lives IF (and I assume a very BIG IF) there were to be a movie.

What I found VERY forced about Season 6 and especially the CS, was all the "pairing off" that occurred. Yes, JF commited himself to Carson/Hughes marrying in Season 5, so no surprise there.

I actually enjoyed Edith/Bertie despite the Marigold drama. AND there was good chemistry in the development of Edith/Bertie. Could see Molesley/Baxter. That was a very nice/comfortable evolution over 3 seasons.

Can ALMOST see Patmore/Mason as a gradual outgrowth of their mutual concern/love of Daisy and all her ups & downs. BUT Daisy/Andy? Where did that come from? Too forced for me.

Found the Isobel and Violet "rescue" of Merton rather corny. For me, just a quick resolution of Isobel's story line to give her a happy ending.

Had a hard time with Mary/Henry. Felt very forced. Although in the CS Henry was very likable, the Mary/Henry relationship seemed to lack any real chemistry (unlike Edith/Bertie). There was more chemistry between Tom and Henry in their "Bromance" than between Mary and Henry!

If Season 6 was the redemption and humanizing of Mary's character after 2 seasons of obnoxious, somewhat childish, self-centered, cold and haughty behavior, it came pretty late by the CS (at least for me) to make it truly believable. Yes, the signs are there, but I felt like I needed more time for it to feel like a true change.

Yes, the "hospital story line" was drawn out and dreary, BUT I did like that it gave Cora something to sink her teeth into. AND how Violey FINALLY conceded to Cora the "Queen of the County" rank - a role that really should have been Cora's for many years (since Season 1?).

Before the release of the Sixth Season I read an interview with Elizabeth McGovern in which she mentioned that something so drastic would happen in the final season that it would change the family forever. That did imply something like a death (because short of aliens from outer space landing on the groomed lawns of Downton, what could be that drastic at a such short notice?). Robert's death would have been a good ending of the series for it would symbolize the end of an era, the final swan song of Victorian and Edwardian Britain and a decisive shift to a far less certain modern era.

I pulled together a potential scenario where Robert's death due to an ill-equipped hospital would send everyone in different directions. The first reaction would be that new death duties, on top of the duties just paid for Matthew's death would make Mary decide that the solution was to economise to save the house and estate for her son, the new earl and still very underage, so he'd have a proper inheritance when he came of age, and rent out the house on a long term lease while retreating to another house on the estate. Mary would become a Scarlett O'Hara type figure and decide to dedicate herself to managing the estate so she decides that she's happier as a single / widow and turn down all the men interested in her.

Edith still pairs up with Bertie Hexham and has a happy ending of her own.

Meanwhile, Cora decides that she misses America and even says that she's never been fully happy living in England because she was never truly accepted, and as her mother is in ill-health, she moves back to New York to be with her. She takes Thomas with her as her butler, so Thomas gets to escape the narrow world of rural Yorkshire for the excitement of New York.

Mrs. Crawley still marries Lord Merton, and as her house becomes vacant, Mary moves into it. She takes a few (unnamed) servants from Downton with her but it's a reduced staff of only 3-4 servants (cook, maid, nanny and gardener).

With the closure of the house, the servants are scattered.

Bates and Anna go off to run their own inn with baby Bates.

Molesly marries Baxter and he becomes the teacher.

Mrs. Patmore retires to her B&B and possibly pairs off with Mr. Mason

Daisy and Albert take over the Mason farm.

As for the dowager countess, Violet remains in the dower house, her influence diminished and growing even older.

Just finished the series. It was a fairytale ending overall. Some of the other scenarios people have come up with on here are pretty good as an ending as well. Glad I watched it though. If it was any type of glimpse into the English way of life back in that era, It was interesting. ladies made butler under butler, footman etc. someone to dress you, brush your hair, make your meals. Wow!!

I did find Mary, irritating of all. However probably, it was written that way.

I just finished binging the show last night. Never got around to watching it in the heyday. Loved it all. I personally really enjoyed the last episode. I am one for happy endings so liked that there was no real drama left at the end and yet was happy they left it open should a movie be made or even if they wanted to move the show a few years into the future for a reboot. Say when George is ready to take over. either way, I felt satisfied at the end.

If I could see one thing in the ending, with all the talk of the future, I feel like I would have liked to have heard a more final plan of what was going to happen to the Abbey financially. I really enjoyed the episode where they did the tour. Tom was absolutely right that tours would be a way to go. I think it was funny showing how much the family did NOT know the history of the estate but at the same time, it should have been an eye opener to them that they need to spend some time learning about the house they have been living in for 30 years. A call back saying they were going to start adding the tours would have been nice.

The 'too convenient' plot line for me was Thomas Barrow being elevated to butler. It was a great scene and Thomas was one of my favorite characters. I am just not a fan of some plots that make a big deal about leaving but then in the very next episode they are back. Same kind of thing happened to Tom and Syble when they returned for the Carson's wedding. I didn't feel they were gone long enough to miss them. Anyway, they could have easily had the promotion happen without Thomas leaving as his time in the other house didn't really lead to anything. He had already learned his lesson so it was just padded storyline to me. They should have either let Tom be happy in the new job or took care of the promotion without him leaving. But that's just my nit pick.

Again, overall I enjoyed it. Can't wait to watch the movie and see what happens there.

I mever, throughout the entire run of the series, thought the family would lose the estate.mFrankly, that was never a story that Fellowes was willing to tell.

Besides, if they had lost the estate then we couldn’t have had the two films.